Ballard

Ballard is a surname of English origin. It likely derives from Middle English "ball," meaning "white spot," plus the suffix "-ard," and would therefore mean "bald head." Indeed, Wyclif translated 2 Kings 2:23 as "Stye up, ballard," where Coverdale translated the same passage as "Come up here thou balde head." There are other sources for this name, besides the Anglo-Saxon. Not all people bearing the name are of English origins. It is common, with native etymology among several Celtic nations, although the British Celtic form is likely the original, and it may be that "Bald head" is a false etymology designed to give the name English roots. The earliest form is Ap Alard, meaning the "son of the fox" in Welsh, and it passed from Wales to Brittany as Aballard, whence it became popular in France under the form Aballaird, and thence to Spain. People with the surname Ballard Arts, music, and writing Agnes Ballard (1877–1969), American architect and educator Alimi Ballard (born 1977), American actor Clint Ballard Jr. (1931–2008), American songwriter Edward George Ballard (1791–1860) English miscellaneous writer Florence Ballard (1943–1976), American pop singer Frank Ballard (1929–2010), American puppeteer Frankie Ballard (born 1982), American country music singer George Ballard (c. 1706 – 1755), English antiquary and biographer Glen Ballard (born 1953), American songwriter and record producer Hank Ballard (1936–2003), American singer/songwriter Horace D. Ballard (1984-), American writer and curator of the Williams College Museum of Art J. G. Ballard (1930–2009), British writer Kaye Ballard (1925–2019), American actress, singer, and comedian Lucien Ballard (1908-1988), American cinematographer Mary Canfield Ballard (1852–1927), American poet Robert Ballard II (c. 1575–1645), French Baroque lutenist and composer Russ Ballard (born 1945), English singer/songwriter and musician Simone Ballard (1897-1978), French opera singer Tom Ballard (comedian) (born 1989), Australian comedian and radio presenter